Behind the Scenes: How to Make the Olive Oil Cake at Michael White's Ai Fiori

"We can't take this off the menu," says Ai Fiori pastry chef Alina Martell. "People get upset if we do."

She's talking about the olive oil cake, which is surprisingly simple to make. It does take a bit of assembly and patience, but it becomes a truly elegant dessert. As with the best of Italian cooking, this classic Michael White dessert relies on simplicity. It's the simple combination of high quality ingredients that makes this dessert shine—and places in such high demand.

Take a look through the slideshow to see how this beautiful dessert is made!